Car-coupling



(No Model.)

GAR COUPLING.

'No. 556,791. Patented Mar. 24, 1896.

i I I I 9' I I mmum 11 m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

('JT'EARLES E. \VARD, OF EST MILFORD, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DAVID L. HALL, OF SYOAMORE DALE, NEST VIRGINIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Qatent No. 556,791, dated March 24, 1896.

Application filed December 31, 1895. Serial No 578,940. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it away concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. WARD, a citizen of the United $tates, residing at lVest Milford, in the county of Harrison and State of \Vest Virginia, have invented a new and useful (Jar-Coupling, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in car-couplings.

The objects of the present invention are to improve the construction of car-couplings, to provide one capable of coupling automatically, and to enable cars to be readily uncoupled without going between them.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1v is a perspective view of a car-coupling constructed in accord ance with this invention and shown applied to a car. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a reverse plan view, partly in section.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawmgs.

1 designates a draw-head provided with a horizontal opening 2 receiving horizontallyswinging pivotally-mounted jaws 3 located at opposite sides of the draw-heads and adapted to engage an arrow-head link 4. The edges are pivoted at their inner ends on verticalbolts or pins 5, and they are held in engagement with the link by spring 6 located at opposite sides of the draw-head within the horizontal opening and secured at their rear ends, their front ends being free and engaging the jaws at the outer edges thereof. The link is provided at each end with an arrow-head, the

' front of the draw-head is beveled to form a beneath a car 9 and fulcrumed intermediate of their ends on perforated extensions or cars 10 of a box or frame 11. The inner ends of the operating-levers are arranged within a keeper l2 and are connected by a short chain 18 to cause both levers to be oscillated when the lever B is operated. The outer arms or portions of the levers are connected by chains 13 with the jaws 3, and when the levers are swung rearward the jaws are spread to release the link to effect the operation of uncoupling. The inner arm or portion of the lever 9 is arranged in rear of that of the other lever 8, in order that both the levers will be oscillated when the lever 9 is operated.

The box or frame 11 receives the shank of the draw-head and is connected with the latter by a transverse pin 15 passing through a slot or opening 16 of the shank of the draw head. A cushion 17 of rubber or other suitable material is mounted within the slot or opening 16 in advance of the transverse pin 15 to cushion the parts in coupling.

It will be seen that the car-coupling is simple, inexpensive in construction, and that it is positive and reliable in operation, and that it is capable of coupling automatically and of being readily uncoupled without going between cars. It will also be apparent that the operation of uncoupling may be performed from either side of a car, as the inner end of the lever 7 will actuate the adjacent end of the other lever when the said lever 7 is operated, and the short chain will cause the lever 7 to be oscillated when the other lever S is operated.

Changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

lVhat I claim is- 1. In a car-coupling, the combination with a car, of a draw -head mounted thereon, horizontally-disposed spring-actuated jaws mounted in the draw-head and adapted to engage an arrowhead link, levers located at opposite sides of the car fnlcrumed intermediate of their ends and having their inner portions engaging each other, and chains connecting the levers with the jaws, substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination with a car, of a draw-head, spring-actuated jaws pivotally mounted in the draw-head and adapted to engage an arrow-head link, a frame receiving the shank of the draw-head and provided with extensions oppositely-disposed levers fulcrumed intermediate of their ends on the extensions and having their inner portions engagingeach other, a keeper mounted on the frame and receiving the inner portions of the levers, and connections between the outer portions of the levers and the springactuated jaws, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination with CHAS. E. WARD. Vitnesses:

FREDERICK II. STURM, AMBROSE O. HOLDEN. 

